A lift changes how your truck looks, sits and drives, and the price can run from under $200 to five figures. So how much does it cost to lift a truck? Parts alone run from about $100 for a basic leveling kit to $5,000 or more for a full suspension lift, before installation.
The spread is wide because “lifting a truck” covers three very different jobs. Below, we break down each one, what installation adds, and the costs people tend to find out about too late. If you would rather have a real number for your own truck, contact Big Easy Custom Cars for a free estimate.
The short answer
Leveling kits run about $99 to $1,000 in parts. Body lifts run about $180 to $450. Full suspension lifts start around $1,000 and can pass $5,000. A professional suspension lift install usually takes 7 to 15 hours of shop time.
Three Ways to Lift a Truck, and What Each Costs
Leveling kits: about $99 to $1,000
Most trucks leave the factory sitting lower in the front than the rear, so the rear can squat under a load or a trailer and still sit level. A leveling kit raises the front to match. It is the cheapest way to change the stance, it makes room for slightly larger tires, and it leaves most of the factory suspension alone.
Body lifts: about $180 to $450
A body lift sets spacers between the frame and the body, raising the cab and bed without touching the suspension. The parts are affordable and the ride stays close to stock. The frame and axles stay at factory height, so you gain room for bigger tires while the clearance under the truck stays the same.
Suspension lifts: about $1,000 to $5,000 and up
A suspension lift raises the frame itself by changing parts at each corner: springs or coilovers, longer shocks, and on taller lifts new control arms, knuckles or crossmembers. It is the lift that adds real ground clearance under the frame, which is why off-road builds like the trail rigs we build start here. Price climbs with lift height and hardware quality. Complete kits generally start around $1,000, and premium systems can pass $10,000.
| Lift type | What it raises | Typical parts cost |
|---|---|---|
| Leveling kit | The front, to match the rear | $99 to $1,000 |
| Body lift | Cab and bed, on spacers | $180 to $450 |
| Suspension lift | The frame, on new suspension parts | $1,000 to $5,000+ |
Parts only. Typical US ranges published by national truck parts retailers and dealers, 2022 to 2026. Your truck, lift height and parts choices move the number.
What Installation Adds
A leveling kit is usually the quickest install of the three. A full suspension lift is a bigger job: professional installation typically takes 7 to 15 hours of shop time, depending on the truck and the kit. One rule of thumb parts retailers use is that labor costs roughly as much as the kit itself.
Doing it yourself saves the labor, but a lift touches steering, brakes and driveline angles. Mistakes show up as vibration, uneven tire wear or a truck that wanders on the highway. That is why a proper lift kit and suspension install ends with an alignment and a road test.
The Costs People Forget
The kit is rarely the whole bill. Budget for these as well:
- Bigger tires and wheels. Fitting them is often the reason for the lift, so plan for a full set as well.
- A wheel alignment. Any change in ride height changes the steering geometry, so the truck needs aligning afterwards.
- Speedometer recalibration. Larger tires cover more ground per turn. On tires about 6 percent taller, an indicated 60 mph is really closer to 64.
- Tire pressure sensors. New wheels need the TPMS sensors moved over or replaced so the warning light stays off.
- Re-gearing. A big jump in tire size can leave the truck sluggish and hurt towing, which some owners fix by changing the axle gear ratio.
Will a Lift Kit Void My Truck's Warranty?
Not automatically. Under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a manufacturer cannot void your warranty just because aftermarket parts are on the truck. The Federal Trade Commission puts it plainly: the manufacturer or dealer must prove the aftermarket part caused the damage before denying coverage.
That protection has limits. Bigger tires and changed geometry add load to wheel bearings, ball joints and steering parts, so if one of those wears out early, a dealer can argue the lift caused it. Keep your receipts, and ask your installer which parts the lift affects.
How Much Does It Cost to Lift a Truck in New Orleans?
There is no honest flat price, because the answer depends on your truck, the height you want and how you drive. A half-ton pickup that crosses the Causeway every day needs a different setup than a trail rig for Northshore back roads. City streets matter too: a tire with more sidewall rides over potholes more comfortably than a low-profile one.
Big Easy Custom Cars gives free estimates, so you can see what the lift, tires and alignment will cost before any work starts, and financing is available. We build for drivers across New Orleans and our service areas, from Metairie and Kenner to Covington and Slidell.
Quick Questions About Lifting a Truck
Does a lift make a truck ride rougher?
It can. A leveling kit or body lift keeps most of the factory ride. On a suspension lift, the shocks matter most, and kits with longer, matched shocks usually ride better than spacers alone.
How long does it take to lift a truck?
A leveling kit is the quickest of the three. A full suspension lift usually takes 7 to 15 hours of shop time, plus an alignment afterwards.
Does lifting a truck hurt gas mileage?
Usually, yes. A taller truck pushes more air, and bigger, heavier tires take more effort to turn, so fuel economy often drops after a lift.
The Bottom Line
So, how much does it cost to lift a truck? Plan on about $99 to $1,000 for a leveling kit, $180 to $450 for a body lift, and $1,000 to $5,000 or more for a suspension lift, plus installation, tires and an alignment. The right choice comes down to how you drive as much as how you want the truck to look.
If you want a lift that looks right and still drives right, call Big Easy Custom Cars at (504) 384-8006 or contact us for a free estimate.